188 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vii. 



beak than any of the others. I examined from twenty 

 -to twenty -five undoubted nests of this rare species. 

 These were spread over five different sites, each accom- 

 modating a nesting-colony of Roseate Terns only. The 

 largest number of nests in any one of these colonies 

 was seven. The only exception to the foregoing was 

 that of the Tern recorded on my first visit. This bird 

 had its nest nearer the edge of the general colony than 

 any of the other Roseates, and amongst the nests of 

 the Common and Arctic Terns. Out of the total number 

 of nests examined one contained two eggs ; one a nestling 

 and an egg just chipping ; two or three single nesthngs ; 

 and the remainder one egg each. In practically every 

 instance where there were eggs, incubation was weU 

 advanced. It will be seen from this that the tendency 

 was to hatch out one egg, although the full clutch is 

 stated to consist of two eggs {British Bird Book, III., p. 66). 

 It was also apparent that the Roseates were later breeders 

 than the other species. I have mentioned " nests,"' but 

 reaUy no nesting-material was used by any of the birds. 

 As regards the colour of the eggs, there was little, if 

 any, marked variation, the ground-colour being light 

 stone, spotted, and speckled with shades of bro^Mi, Avith 

 underlying blotches or spots of ashy-grey. Although 

 in most cases the eggs were more elongated than those 

 of the Common and Arctic Terns, it was difiicult to find 

 very much difference in some. 



With regard to the nestlings, these were quite distinct 

 from the nestlings of any of the other species. In the 

 first place the upper-parts were streaked with dark on 

 a buff ground-colour, whereas the dark markings on the 

 nestlings of the Common and Arctic Terns are in the 

 shape of blotches, and are not so freely distributed over 

 the surface. There is, however, another most important 

 distinguishing feature, namely the colour of the legs and 

 foet ; these were of a dark purplish-flesh, but there was 

 a certain amount of transparency about this colouring 

 giving it the appearance of pink tissue-paper smeared 



